The Security Council must act urgently to support Haiti as the gang, economic, and fuel supply crises there “intersect in altogether new and frightening ways”, the head of the UN Mission in the country, BINUH, said on Monday.
Meanwhile, political stakeholders are still struggling to find common ground and define a path to elections against this backdrop, she added.
Haitian-led solution critical
“An economic crisis, a gang crisis, and a political crisis have converged into a humanitarian catastrophe. We must not lose hope, but rather combine our efforts to find a pathway to a better tomorrow,” said UN Special Representative Helen La Lime, speaking from the capital Port-au-Prince.
“A Haitian-led political solution is the first necessary step to address the current crisis. To support Haitians in their effort towards a better future, this Council must take urgent action.”
Gang violence continues to disrupt daily life in Haiti, driving more than 20,000 people from their homes.
More than 1 million affected
The UN estimates that at least 1.5 million people in the Caribbean country have been directly impacted by recent unrest, with gender-based violence, and in particular rape, being used systematically.
The economic crisis has caused food prices to soar, while fuel is often available only on the black market.
Protests broke out in Haiti after the Prime Minister announced on 11 September that the Government will reduce some $400 million in fuel subsidies in efforts to increase revenue for social programmes.
By the following day, barricades had been erected throughout the country, prompting a nationwide shutdown, with the situation persisting in the capital for a full five days.
One of the largest gang alliances also blocked the main fuel terminal there on 12 September. The siege lasted for over a week, despite concerted operations by the police over the weekend.
Good offices role
On the political front, Ms. La Lime said she has maintained good relations with all sectors of society and has encouraged dialogue.
“While so-far inconclusive efforts have led to a perceived stalemate, national stakeholders have begun to re-engage with a renewed sense of urgency. In the past weeks, Government representatives, political groups, and civil society organizations launched new consultations on ways to forge a wider consensus on a path to elections. But we’re not there yet,” she said.
Aid delivery hampered
The insecurity has also severely curtailed humanitarian access and made it “very difficult and dangerous” to deliver, according to Valerie N. Guarnieri, Deputy Executive Director at the World Food Programme (WFP).
“We expect food security to further deteriorate this year, surpassing the record high of 4.5 million people estimated to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity, including 1.3 million people in emergency,” she said.
The gangs strangling the capitol are blocking access to fuel supplies and key logistics hubs, including ports and airports, as well as road access to other areas of the country.
Protesters have also ransacked and looted humanitarian warehouses, with WFP losing one-third of its food stocks in just one week. UN agencies and partners estimate they have lost some $6 million during such attacks, which come at the peak of the hurricane season.
Appeal for support
Ms. Guarnieri stressed that WFP and other aid agencies intend to stay and deliver in Haiti despite the challenges, but will need greater assistance.
“Simply put, we’re not in a position to support all of those that need our help due to the general lawlessness and operational environment,” she said.
“Therefore, we’re looking forward to increased support from the Member States, from you, to further facilitate humanitarian access as well as protection of humanitarian actors, personnel and assets.”
Fighting illicit trafficking
The armed groups not only compromise stability and security, they also hamper efforts towards peace and lasting development, said Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).
Haiti is particularly vulnerable to the illicit traffic in commodities, particularly drugs, firearms and ammunition. due to its 1,500 kilometres of coastline and land border with the Dominican Republic.
Ms. Waly said UNODC is supporting border management and is working to map out transnational criminal activities in Haiti, as well as their regional impact.
They are also assisting the authorities in building capacity to inspect containers at strategic points such as ports and border crossings.
“These efforts should ensure that customs revenue be effectively sent to activities to support border modernization and border management,” she said, speaking in French.
SOURCE: UN News
Sometimes unfortunately diplomacy doesn’t work these gangs who are disrupting the lives of the innocent people in their own country needs to be held accountable for their actions if the local authorities can’t handle them well the international community should step in to help stabilize the country and I am not only talking about Haiti
Based on public sentiment, everyone should leave Haiti alone to figure out their shit.
Once is black against black leave them if any body interfere it will be racist
On second thought @Awa i will definitely have to agree with you
@ HN & AWA, I agree 100%, the situation in St. Lucia is a prime example. Though our situation is not half as bad as Haiti; its a situation that can and should be able to be handled locally, but I suspect even with our police, there is fear of reprisal toward family, when everyone knows everyone’s business.
See who is minister for Policing, not because she is woman/see who we have in Cabinet/ one once banned from the U.S./who gave the order to release a murderer, drug Trafficker out of prison in Barboneau? we are all local Black people, yet for a tiny Island of 180,000 we are at loss to figure how we can’t control the criminality, resulting in death, on the Island. We don’t want any white Cops here, but some black Bajans, Trinis, etc. etc. the sooner the better. Most of all, We need the LORD JESUS in our homes, schools & our lives.
Something tells me that Haiti was never ready for its independence which it fought for and gained from the French over 200 years ago! In order for countries to thrive after breaking free from the shackles of colonialism, there must be a certain level of discipline, ethics, morality, spirituality, etc., within the ethos of the people. Sadly, the history of Haiti — from its leaders all the way through to too many of the the common person — proved that Haiti wasn’t ready then, and still isn’t ready today! The real revolutions that Haiti needs is one of discipline, ethics, morality, spirituality, etc. This is my position — and I’m sticking to it!
The sentence “Political Stakeholders are struggling to find common ground” defines it all. Haitian (and other countries) politicians and elites, are only concerned about their own wealth and egos. They are not there for the common good – a problem throughout the world, and not necessarily confined to race. Although external “interference” always brings with it other problems, to protect the women and children who are being raped, to feed and house those displaced people, and to bring a level of security to the country, perhaps it could be justified. @ Truth be Told, their independence from the French from the start was fraught with rivalry – mixed-race elites at odds with their black “brothers”. Haitians must be the most generationally cursed people on the planet.
@TRUTH BE TOLD now you understand why Martinique and Guadeloupe will never break away from France
Hell 🔥 Yes !!
Woe to them evil 😈 doers, who have taken the way of Caïn, for whom blackest darkness has reserved for them.
Man animals who do not know the way of the LORD ; for they will mourn and lament !
“Their feet are swift to shed blood,ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know”.
There is no fear of God before their eyes. Let them vanish like water that flows away ❗
The understanding of this message will bring sheer terror.
The bed is too short to stretch on, the blanket too narrow to wrap around you all.
The LORD will rise as he did before,he will rouse himself in Haiti_
to do his work, his strange work,and perfom his task, his alien task.
❗Now Stop your mocking,or your chains will be heavier ; the Lord,the LORD Almighty, has told me of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
Listen and hear my voice ; pay attention to what I say.
When a farmer plows for planting,does he plow continually ?
Does he keep on breaking up and harrowing the soil ?
When he has leveled the surface,does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin ?
Wail,O Haïti ! Howl,O Haitians !
The French is mostly to blame for Haiti’s plight. They had Haiti to pay reparations which was more than their economy could generate after attaining independence . That simply stifled their socio and economic development. They have never been able to recover from this oppression. I do blame their leadership for behaving in the same manner as the French. They have failed themselves.
I wholeheartedly agree! I believe independence should be temporarily annulled by the Security Council if cool rationality prevails. In these days, I am far from expecting any such thing. U.N. government is clearly preferable!